St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-06-25
guarantee the peace of Europe for
goodly season if they were SO minded,
and they would promote the worlds best
interests if they were to resolve upon the
adoption of pacific policy.

if they were to resolve upon the
of pacific policy.
~
The registration officers in Utah have
completed their work, and the Mormon
authorities do not appear to be satisfied
with the result. 1t has been announced
that Mormons generally would take the
oath, but many of them would not take
it. Two-ffths of the voting population
had been disfranchised, and it was re-
ported that thirty per cent. of the re-
mainder were unwilling to register.
"All should understand" urged the
Mormon organ, that the swallowing
of the oath is absolutely essential to
the exercise of the franchise. All
should know that vote will
have greater value in Utah next Au-
gust than ever before in this Territory
The lists now show in many districts
total registration that falls below the
vote cast at the last election, when not
more than one-third of the registered
voters cast their ballots. Part OF this
decrease is accounted for by the dis
franchisement of the women in the Ter
ritory, who constitute two-ifths of the
voting population. At the next election
the ratio of registered voters to the en-
tire population in Salt Lake City will
not exceed one to fifteen. as the lists now
stand.
Loose assertions so often heard to the
effect that religious belief is decaying
are not borne out by the facts. Statistics
recently compiled by the Independent
show that during the last four years
there has been an increase in the United
States of 1926 churches, 1904 ministers,
and 1,618,799 communicates. The emu
meration does not include Hebrews, frag-
mentary bodies and independent congre-
cations. An increase at the rate of over
ten churches a day certainly does not
indicate any lack of vitality in Chris
tianity. The total number of communi-
cants in the country is over 19,OOO,O0O,
100000 of whom are credited to the Ro-
man Catholic Church. As the total pop
ulation of the country is in the neighbor-
hood of 6O,O0O,OO0, this would indicate
that nearly one person in every three is
a church member. The ratio is so great
that it would not be surprising to learn
that the statistics are to some extent
fallacious; but at any rate it is clear
that Americans are church-going
people.
The idea that there is any decay in
religious sentiment is doubtless due to
shallow views as the effect of scientific
progress upon faith. Talk about the
conflict of science and religion is really
nonsense. They can conflict no more
than can fact and truth. Science is, in.
deed, playing havoc with some of the old
theological systems and many pious
souls are disturbed thereby, just as there
are people who might grieve to see the
tcobwebs swept from old cathedral win
dows, banishing the vague dimness to
which they had became accustomed and
letting in a clear light, causing their
eyes to blink painfully in its radi-
ance. The governing thought OF
the leading church organizations is, how
ever, receptive and adaptable in its atti-
tude toward science. There is a grow
ing tendency toward accommodation in
matters of mere speculative opinion in
recognition of the fact that the true office
of the church is to influence conduct.
That is formality and net religion which
does not have for its result practical
righteousness. In this reaching after
essentials there has been weakening OF
ecclesiastical prejudices, and a growing
spirit of catholicity is manifest in the
relations of the various denomina-
tions.
Nv
The new French ministry has managed
thus far to keep its head above water
but its tenure is reckoned slight by those
best informed. The Chamber of Depu-
ties is at present divided into three
groups or factions, of about like relative
strength. These are the Extreme Left
and Radical Left, now practically one
group, since they are working together
the Centre and the Right. The two groups
of the Left Central about 155 votes anc
the Centre and Right about 1sO. Clemen
ceau, the leader of the Radicals, direct:
the Left. The Centre is made up of tht
so-ca1led moderate Republicans, while thu
| Orleanists and Bonapartists make up thu
Right. It is upon support from the lat
| ter faction that M. Rouvier and his col
| leagues place their main reliance.
| ~
Mr.. Parne1l. in abandoning obstructive
tactics in the debate upon the crimes act
has disarmed the Tory ministry Of
club which they welded with powerful
effect. The passage Of the bill is Ger
tain, but its practical working is quit
another matter Its glaring abuses ma.
be shown up vividly by judiciously pro
posed amendments. The fact that tn
government abandoned the clause pro
yiding for changes of venue from Ire
land to London shows that there IS
limit to the brutal assurance of the Tor.